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Vancouver stadium dome damaged

Saturday, January 6, 2007

The inflatable roof covering BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia was intentionally collapsed in a “controlled deflation” on Friday after a section of the dome was ripped open. As the seven-metre tear became caught in the wind, it began to make loud noises, which one stadium worker described as similar to “elephants running through your living room”. The venue was evacuated and no one was reported injured. Windy weather conditions are blamed for the damage. Officials have not yet indicated when roof repairs can be completed to allow the facility to re-open.

BC Place Stadium was opened in June 1983 and is scheduled as a key venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The roof costs $300,000 per year to maintain.

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Scottish lawyer denies death of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

A Scottish lawyer today denied reports that Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi had died, after it was reported on Sky News earlier today that “unidentified sources” had said that he was dead.

The reports came onto Sky News at around 16.00 BST today. The information could not be confirmed, and it was not immediately clear where Sky News had obtained their information. Megrahi is suffering from terminal prostate cancer. Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill MSP decided on 20 August 2009 to grant Megrahi compassionate release from Greenock Prison in Glasgow, Scotland and to allow him to return to Libya, after medical advisers reported that he was likely to die in just three months.

On Wednesday, Megrahi’s lawyer, Tony Kelly, responded to the claims made, saying that “it’s absolutely untrue. He’s definitely not dead. I’m not saying anything about his health condition other than the fact he is alive and breathing.” He declined to release any information about Abdelbaset’s current health condition. Following these comments, Sky News removed the information from their website.

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German, Iraqi driver abducted in Iraq

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

A German citizen and her Iraqi driver were abducted in Iraq on Friday.

The Baghdad bureau of the German TV station ARD received a tape from the hostage-takers on Monday evening. In it three armed men are demading that Germany breaks off diplomatic relations with the Iraqi government in exchange for the lives of the hostages. The station has refused to air the tape and only released a still image.

The hostage is a 43-year old archaeologist working in Iraq. She is a converted muslim and married to a Jordanian. Her 10-year old daughter is living with friends in Germany.

The German foreign ministry has established a crisis squad and is trying to negotiate the release of the hostages. But the vice chair of the parliamentary foreign committee, Hans-Ulrich Klose, called the demands of the kidnappers “unacceptable”.

Germany did not participate in the Iraq War and does not have soldiers stationed there. It is however training Iraqi police officers in neighbouring countries.

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Clothing

Tips On Travelling With Children}

Tips on Travelling with Children

by

Flight Centre

Parents who are preparing to set foot on a plane with small children can be, understandably, quite anxious about this experience. Children can be difficult adjusting to change and theres nothing quite like flying in a plane. While some kids grow up loving every part of it, others may have fears about the experience especially the idea of being off the ground! And when it comes to air travel, parents arent just concerned about their kids anxieties, but also about their safety. Airports tend to be massive, unfamiliar and exceptionally busy places the perfect conditions to easily lose a child.

Travelling with your kids doesnt have to be such nerve-wrecking experience if you take the initiative to plan ahead for your trip. Do what you can to prepare for every situation and take on board these helpful tips:

– Before taking your dream holiday overseas, it might be worthwhile to take a few cheap domestic flights with your children to familiarise them with the experience. This will help him or her to understand what to expect, from checking in luggage to the experience of take-off and landing. It will also help you as a parent identify areas which might present the most problems.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgwpUAif3rg[/youtube]

– Plan your time well and arrive extra extra early. Your children will probably end up slowing you down and nerves tend to be more frayed when youre in hurry not the ideal state to be in onboard an aircraft. Arrive early enough to avoid needing to stand in long queues, and to give you time to explain to the children what is happening at each step of the process.

– Teach your kids the interesting stuff about flying. By making it educational and exciting, many children will be less anxious about the experience. Enlist the help of airline employees to answer questions and see if can get your children introduced to the captain and pilot. A child is likely to find explanations from a person in uniform especially reassuring.

– Take along small items which can entertain the child without bothering other passengers. Noisy and bulky toys are generally bad choices but items that have a long entertainment value could be good. Puzzles, small travel games that can be played together and books might be good choices. Also think about what will be provided on the flight. Rock bottom cheap flights to London might not have on board entertainment options so youll have to come prepared. Consider your dining options as well, especially if your child is a picky eater. Take along snacks that will remain fresh and be easy to eat.

– Plan ahead to anticipate needs that might be stressful. Have a plan for how the ordinary tasks will be handled. Things such as bathroom trips, collecting baggage, buying last-minute snacks, etc will cause less anxiety if the child knows ahead of time that, for example, Daddy will leave us to park the car, but we will wait for him in the building, and then well get our tickets together.

Good preparation and communication can help make air travel peaceful for you and your children and your fellow passengers will thank you!

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Tips on Travelling with Children}

Avalanche in Canadian Rocky Mountains kills two

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Two people in the Canadian Rocky Mountains were killed yesterday in an avalanche that struck an informal meeting of 200 snowmobilers. 30 others were hurt, and nineteen people were treated and released at a hospital.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Boulder Mountain near Revelstoke, British Columbia on Saturday at 15.30 local time; officials believe several more people may be trapped beneath the rubble.

“The Canadian Avalanche Centre [CAC] based in Revelstoke has had a warning for the last three weeks expressing extreme caution in the backcountry,” commented Revelstoke mayor David Raven, who noted that the gathering had not been authorised. “A fresh snowfall overnight exacerbated that warning. I know people have been cautioned again and again,” he said to CTV Newsnet. The CAC reports that there were ten avalanches in the vicinity since Friday.

Local police conducted a room-to-room search of a nearby hotel to establish whether anybody with the group was missing. Meanwhile, rescue teams dispatched helicopters to the mountain to see if it was safe to launch a more thorough ground search.

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Toyota Dealership

How To Shop For Used Cars In Auto Sales Shops

How to Shop for Used Cars in Auto Sales Shops

by

Businesslocallistings

Shopping for used cars is a tricky job if you don’t know what to look for. Car dealers can easily sweet talk you into buying something less than your money’s worth and nobody wants that. Auto sales attract a lot of customers because of low prices but two bad things can happens to you during the process. First, you become overwhelmed by the selection, and two, because of that feeling, you end up buying something you might regret later. To avoid wasting energy and money, follow these practical tips whenever you’re in an auto sales shop for used cars:

Assess the auto sales shop. If the place you’re buying a vehicle in is a franchise car dealer, then you’re more likely to get better options. These car dealers often get first pick of the trade-ins and off-lease vehicles and tend to have a stronger inventory. The cars passed over by franchise dealers are sent to auction, where most other used car dealers get their vehicles. If they aren’t a franchise dealer, ask for certification on the used cars as well as limited warranty. This is the next best thing from buying a brand new car. Check for manufacturers online. Most manufacturers of used cars list their inventory online. For example, the BMW Web site lets you search certified pre-owned inventories within a 500-mile radius of your home town. It’s time and energy saving if you’re not up to shopping around for used cars for sale. History tells all. Check for the vehicles history. Get the VIN, or vehicle identification number, to check a car’s history at Carfax or Auto Check. Be on the lookout for a mileage discrepancy or a salvage/junk record. Also note if the used car has crossed state lines. State salvage laws vary, and a state-to-state move could be an attempt to hide problems. Again, the internet is a convenient place to research about the vehicle you want to buy. Consumer Reports are good sources of information of which car models to buy from used car shops. A used car for sale should also have safety records as part of its history. How are the crash test results? What about consumer complaints and the manufacturer’s technical bulletin? You may not find all you want to know about the vehicle but it’s a good take-off point in terms of which used cars to head for and which ones to avoid. Looks may not tell all, but it does tell a lot. It is only logical to look at the details of a used car when you’re planning on buying it. Are the interiors too worn? Does the body kit look sound? How does the engine sound? Are there leaks when the car is on? Car dealers can steer you away from a car’s defects and as someone who might not know a lot about cars, you can get a bad deal. If you can ask someone to be there with yousomeone who knows a thing or two about looking at used cars, the better off you will be upon leaving the auto sales lot. Settle only for the retail price. After choosing the car you want, the negotiations start. Prices of cars for sale vary depending on retail, wholesale, or trade-in. Always ask for the retail price. Prices may also vary according to condition and mileage. Research about a car’s retail price from reliable websites or other possible sources of information. You likely will find discrepancies from guide to guide but as a tip, most retail values run about $500 to $1,000 higher than the actual cost. Check out Sunny Day Auto Sales for used cars, used trucks, and other vehicles. Sunny Day Auto Sales 6304 N Florida Ave Tampa, FL 33604 Phone: (813) 802-2258 Email: mikewinkler5@yahoo.com Website: http://www.sunnydayautosales.com

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYPOMRUcRl4[/youtube]

Thaksin ordered back to Thailand on stock-sale charges

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Ousted and living in exile, with assets frozen in Thailand, former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ordered today by the Royal Thai Police to appear on charges related to the sale of some of his family’s stock holdings.

The order adds to mounting, increasingly complex legal troubles for Thaksin, the telecommunications billionaire who led Thailand until he was unseated in a coup last year.

Thaksin and his wife, Potjaman Shinawatra, who are both outside of Thailand, were both ordered to present themselves to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) by June 29 at the latest. A relative of Potjaman’s, Busaba Damapong, was also ordered to appear.

“If they intentionally fail to appear, we must issue an arrest warrant,” DSI chief Sunai Manomai-udom was quoted as saying by Agence France Presse.

Noppadol Pattama, Thaksin’s lawyer and spokesman in Thailand, could not say when his client would return.

“We will have to seek legal consultations among the lawyers. His security is only one factor. We will have to see what our options are and consult with him as well,” Noppadol was quoted as saying by Associated Press.

Last week, interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and the junta’s leader, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, both said Thaksin could return to Thailand of his own free will, in order to appeal the seizure of his assets. But later, Sonthi said Thaksin might face harm if he returned too soon.

The latest charges relate to the transfer of shares in 2000 in a real-estate company called SC Asset to a British Virgin Islands-owned company called Win Mark. Police say the Shinwatras’ controlling ownership of SC Asset was illegally concealed through nominees. Potjaman’s relative, Busaba Damapong, served as executive director of SC Asset.

Through nominee companies and disclosed shares, Sunai said, the Shinawatra family owned 79.87 percent of SC Asset. “Not only did they have control of a majority stake but also control over board decisions,” Sunai told Associated Press.

They broke the law in failing to report their ownership in SC Asset and failing to report the transfer of the shares, Sunai said. They could face five years in prison and fined at least 500,000 baht (about US$15,000), Sunai added.

Thaksin is also supected of violating the prohibition on Cabinet members holding shares in publicly traded companies, and could face up to ten years in prison and a 1 million baht fine for that.

Potjaman and Thaksin were also charged yesterday over the purchase of a 13-acre tract of land along Ratchadaphisek Road near the Thailand Cultural Centre in Bangkok.

The Office of the Attorney General says Potjaman purchased the land in an auction that was possibly rigged. Valued at 2.1 billion baht before the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and 870 million baht after, Potjaman purchased the land in 2003 for 772 million baht.

The Attorney General’s office is recommending to the Supreme Court that the land be confiscated by the government.

Potjaman is also sought in Thailand to testify before the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) on the sales of her family’s Shin Corporation stock to Singapore-owned Temasek Holdings.

She sent word today that she is seeking medical treatment for headache and irregular heartbeat in Raffles Hospital in Singapore, and that she asked the AEC to delay the hearing.

Potjaman appeared in court last month to plead not guilty to charges of tax evasion in the sale of Shin Corp. stock to Temasek.

The AEC yesterday ordered an additional seven bank accounts seized after it was discovered that the accounts are controlled by the Shinawatra and Damapong families. The accounts contain 8 million baht that was feared missing last week after the AEC ordered 21 of Thaksin’s bank accounts frozen. The 8 million baht had been transferred just before the AEC’s order, to the other seven accounts.

Authorities have frozen a total of 52 billion baht, or about US$1.6 billion, frozen, money they say came from the Shinawatra family’s sale of Shin Corp. stock to Temasek. The stock sale prompted mass protests against Thaksin last year and was one of the factors in the coup that overthrew his government. The authorities also believe that the Shinawatras and the Damapongs have 73 billion baht from the stock sale remaining in Thailand, and officials are still hunting for another 21 billion baht to seize.

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Plastic Surgery

Facelift Rediscover Your Looks

Facelift- Rediscover Your Looks by Many of us constantly look for different ways to fight the signs of ageing. This is where the significance of a face lift comes into picture. A face lift is one of the most effectual ways to combat the signs of ageing. Constant exposure to sun, dust and other factors within our surroundings start affecting our skin. This effect becomes visible in the form of folds, wrinkles and flabby skin around the neck. Today, there are a variety of methods available in the market, ranging from facelifts to Botox. A face lift, medically known as Rhytidectomy, is a procedure that lifts up the skin of cheek and neck, in order to curtail hanging neck skin and jowls. Various other procedures can also be combined with a a href=”http://www.cosmeticmakeover.com.au/facial-cosmetic-surgery/facelift.html” facelift /a to offer best results to the patient. For getting a face lift, your skin must have good elasticity. Although, the elasticity varies from person to person, being well hydrated helps in ensuring that your skin retains the best elasticity. Maintaining good health and being a non-smoker are two important qualities to possess if you are looking for positive results from the procedure.Your bone structure is another determinant factor for a face lift. Without a well-defined and strong bone structure, a face lift may not show positive effects. Many people question whether getting a face lift calls for some unwanted risks or not.One cannot deny that there are certain uncertainties and risks when it comes to getting a face lift. One of the primary risks involved in this procedure is the development of hematoma. Hematoma basically refers to the accumulation of blood under the skin. Injury to nerves might also become a problem, although these are only temporary problems. The common surgery complications are infection or a negative reaction to anaesthesia. Smokers should be extra cautious before going in for this procedure as smoking reduces the ability to heal the skin after face lift.It is always better to consult your plastic surgeon about what you are expecting from the treatment. This would help you understand the consequences well before undergoing the treatment. There are minor numbness and discomfort which you might experience, but they are temporary and would last only for a few weeks. You can resume your regular activities within the period of 10- 15 days.According to the experts, an ideal candidate for this treatment is a person who has a healthy body and a healthy emotional outlook. He/she must be able to see it with a positive attitude to seek better results.For more insights and further information about executive mini face lift visit our site http://www.cosmeticmakeover.com.au/facial-cosmetic-surgery/facelift.htmlArticle Source: eArticlesOnline.com

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CbIblOHe2g[/youtube]

SpaceX scrubs Falcon I rocket launch

Monday, November 28, 2005

SpaceX called off the much-delayed inaugural launch of their new Falcon 1 rocket on Saturday from Kwajalein’s Omelek Island launch site. The intent was to launch the U.S. Air Force Academy’s FalconSat 2 satellite, which will monitor plasma interactions with the Earth’s upper atmosphere and magnetosphere.

The launch was delayed, then finally cancelled after an oxygen boil-off vent had accidentally been left open. The oxygen was unable to cool the helium pressurant, which then proceeded to evaporate faster than it could be replenished. A main computer issue, probably serious enough to cause a scrub on its own, was also discovered.

This long-anticipated flight was originally expected to be launched in January 2005, however a series of setbacks forced a series of delays, with the flight most recently scheduled to be in early 2006. It was intended to be launched from the Kwajalein atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

The maiden voyage was originally intended to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California with a Naval Research Laboratory satellite and a Space Services Incorporated space burial payload.

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Couple takes lawyer hostage and said to have explosives

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

A male and a female took 3 people hostage at a law firm in Statesboro, Georgia. Police blocked off a part of this rural town on Monday. Two suspects , a man and a woman, took a lawyer hostage and claimed that they had explosives.

The suspects, Robert Eugene Brower, 43, a former client of the lawyer, and the female whose name was not released, gave up after demands for cigarettes and food were met and they spoke with a family member.

The standoff lasted for 24 hours and ended, “peacefully,” at around 10AM said Larry Schnall, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol.

The last of the 3 hostages to be released was identified as Michael Hostilo. He and the other two hostages were not injured. There is no word on the names of the other hostages.

Earlier reports stated that there had been a “loud boom” coming from the scene at about six o’clock this morning. Authorities have not stated what the booms were.

Police are now inside the building to locate and defuse the explosive device that the suspects claimed to have had.

Initially when police arrived, there were 3 hostages, but 2 had been recently released and were unharmed, said Maggie Fitzgerald, a city spokeswoman. “They are upset with some legal issues within the recent past and want to get those issues resolved. We are doing everything possible to end this situation without anyone being hurt.”

In a news conference Monday night, Police Chief Stan York said Brower was angry about “having been convicted in a criminal case”, in which the lawyer was his court-appointed attorney. York did not elaborate on the demands of the hostage-takers, other than saying, “they only wanted to call attention to the case.”

Georgia State Trooper Larry Schnall, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol, said a SWAT team was sent to the scene.

This morning authorities convinced the two suspects to give-up, but “incidents leading to an escalation resulted in some gunfire,” Stan York in a press conference just moments ago. No one was hurt in the brief eruption of gunfire.

Police later said when the suspects tried to surrender they became apprehensive and made a threatening gesture prompting authorities to draw their guns and open fire.

The standoff began at around 9AM on Monday.

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